S&L's Lost Flies

Dick Stewart and Bob Leeman's book "Trolling Flies for Trout and Salmon" has inspired fly tyers for the 24 years since it's publication in 1982. Here, finally, we get to see some of the patterns listed in the back of the book that did not have supporting photographs.

When Dick Stewart and Bob Leeman co-authored "Trolling Flies for Trout and Salmon", there were very few books available that dealt exclusively with streamer flies. Of course we all know about Col Bates classic "Streamer Fly Tying and Fishing", but otherwise the pickings were slim. While "Trolling Flies ..." did not garner the attention that other famous fly fishing books have over the years, such as Swisher and Richard's "Selective Trout" or Flick's "Streamside Guide", among streamer junkies S&L's book was a classic.

It was with this in mind that some of these very same streamer junkies decided to bring to life many of the patterns in the extensive pattern dictionary in the book that did not have accompanying photographs of a finished fly. Our intent is certainly not to replace the book, but to honor the book and add a supplement for all those tyers out there who work better with an image in their head in addition to the written pattern listing.

While many of these flies appear elsewhere on GFF, we made the decision to tie them fresh for this feature with the expressed intent to replicate the pattern as listed in the book.
To all the tyers who contributed flies to this feature - a heartfelt thanks for a job well done.
Bob Petti
May 2006

Barred Grey Ghost

Tied by Bob Petti

Barred Grey Ghost

Bob Petti

Thread: BlackTag: Flat Silver TinselBody: Orange FlossRib: Flat Silver TinselWing: 4-5 strands of peacock herl, on top of which is a long golden pheasant crest, outside of which is two feathers on either side, grizzly under grey. Throat: White bucktail and a shorter golden pheasant crest, curving upwardShoulder: Silver PheasantCheek: Jungle Cock

Bob's Smelt

Thread: BlackBody: Flat Silver TinselWing: Sparse white bucktail over which is red bucktail over which is four strands of peacock herl

Butches Phantom

Tied by Darren Bua

Butches Phantom

Bob Petti

Thread: Black Tail: Orange Hackle BarbsBody: Orange FlossRib: Embossed flat silver tinsel, the first three wraps at the rear of the body should be right next to one anotherWing: White bucktail over which 2 orange saddle hackles flanked by two black saddle hacklesShoulder: Silver Pheasant Eyes: Painted White

Champs Special

Tied by Alan Grombacher

Champs Special

Bob Petti

Thread: Black Tail: Red floss, tied shortBody: Flat Silver TinselRib: Oval Silver TinselWing: Sparse yellow bucktail over which are four grizzly hacklesThroat: Sparse white bucktail next to the hook, then a sparse bunch of peacock herl, both as long as the wing

Daisy Mae

Tied by Lindsey Grandison

Daisy Mae

Bob Petti

Thread: Black Tail: Red woolBody: Flat Silver TinselWing: 2 light green saddle hackles flanked by 2 brown saddle hackles, over which are four strands of peacock herlThroat: Long white bucktail, length of body, next to hook, then a small bunch of shorter yellow calftailShoulder: Brown edged black and tan feathers from the back next of a cock ringneck pheasant

Dot Edson

Tied by Royce Stearns

Dot Edson

Bob Petti

Thread: WhiteBody: Flat silver tinsel, on each side of body are strips of pale blue tinsel. These strips are tied in at rear before body is wound, and then bought forward and secrured in frontThroat: White bucktail, length of body, then a sparse red hackle barb beardWing: Four light blue dun hacklesShoulder: Silver Pheasant Cheek: Jungle Cock

Herb Johnson Special

Tied by Deryn Lacombe

Herb Johnson Special

Bob Petti

Thread: WhiteBody: Black WoolRib: Embossed silver tinselWing: Sparse yellow bucktail over which is sparse amount of brown portion of a bucktail dyed yellow. One each side of the wing, the same length as wing, are two strands each of fluorescent blue and fluorescent red floss, over which his one strand of peacock herlThroat: Sparse white bucktailHead: Built up and painted silverEyes: Yellow w/ black pupil

Libby's Cal

Tied by Alan Petrucci

Libby's Cal

Bob Petti

Thread: Fluorescent RedBody: Fluorescent Red FlossRib: Flat Silver TinselWing: Sparse white bucktail over which two yellow hackles flanked by two grizzly hackles,. On top are three strands of peacock herlShoudler: Silver Pheasant

Robin

Tied by Alan Petrucci

Robin

Bob Petti

Thread: RedBody: Red FlossRib: Embossed Silver TinselWing: Very sparse: White bucktail over which orange bucktail over which light green bucktail over which bright blue bucktail or synthetic, over which peacock herl

Comments

RE: Bill Manser, March 17,2010
Your request for info on the Deerfield or Westfield Streamers piqued some interest! Could you somehow get a picture of these flies on here? I will attempt to find out more from my club and a few friends that live in, and frequently fish those rivers!

We have a mystery script that for some reason deletes some of the images in this article. I have been trying to hunt it down, but can't seem to find it. Strange! Let me know if they keep disappearing, and I'll intensify the pursuit.

anyone know of the originator of the deerfield or westfield streamer? i have an original of each and would like to know more about them. they were originally purchased from a shop on the westfield - in westfield ma in the 50's....

Bob, great site and great pic's and this is coming from someone who was there when this book was put together. I do have some questions on the names of some of the flies and how they are tied. Ref: this book,
First of all you do not have the famous Frost's Blue Smelt for which Dick was known for. there are some changes made in this book.I have the changes written in pencil by the authors in the margins of my copy which is signed by both. No it is NOT for Sale. I live in Rangeley. Maine, have fished most of these flies and knew both of these gentlemen personally. We tied flies together on many occasions. They were good friends. I have fished the Kennebago River and both the little and big lakes with them many times. I will share these changes without charge to anyone who wishes. I am a registered Maine guide also and will take fisher-people to the same spots these two fished, mentioned in their book and got their inspirations.

This page is A Classic! Very pleased with the photos of the flies and history on this page. I make my own variations of smelt patterns and they fish very well. I will save this as my favorites for a quick reference. Great Job!

Very nice presentaion. Although the Maynard's Marvel pictured does not have a golden pheasant crest wing as the pattern calls for. Being very difficult to work with a travel steam iron on a low heat setting is the trick for taming those nasty yellow feathers into submission. I was sworn to secrecy on this, but maybe it will help out a few frustrated individuals out there. Many fond memoriers were rekindled browsing through these patters. Ora Smith and my father Don Stratton were great friends and collegues.

Very Nice!!!! Are all these Streamer's in the Dick Stewart and Bob Leeman's book " Trolling Flies for Trout and Salmon 1982. If so, is it possile to get this book somewhere? I thing I will start tying the streamers from the top.

Beautifully tied flies-well done to all ! The Parmachene Belle is an excellent fly for sea-trout on West-Country English rivers; I usually dress it on a medium shank, size 8 or 6 with the wings made up of married white swan with two or three red fibres forming a central 'stripe'. I will try the hackle-wing version this season...
A great reference work, truly inspiring !

In my youth, I've tied and fished many of these "streamers" as wet flies. Love the addition of these patterns with photographs to the fly fishing body of knowledge. You should be proud of you accomplishment!

Angel - I would be very grateful for pictures and price lists of fishable flies, especially in the style of the old feather Rangeley flies, for trout. Thefly you posted looks promising - brook trout patterns have been especially successful for me in Northern Michigan. Thanks, Rick

These pages are filled with unbelievably beautiful flies - what great work! But I want to FISH them, not look at them. Unfortunately, with my tying skills, I'll be too old to pick up a rod by the time I learn to tie them. So, my question is: is anyone tying these to sell for fishing? or just displays? Given the labor and materials, maybe they're cost prohibitive, but I sure would like to try some of these patterns on Michigan trout. Thanks for your beautiful photos.

What a terrific set of flies in this presentation! This is a better layout than many color plates of books that I have seen. I'll be working on quite a few of these this winter. I have the referenced book; these ties give me a different perception of their appearance than what I envisioned from the text or their pictures. Great effort, thank you.

Since you got this far …

Long story short

Long story longer

The Global FlyFisher has been online since the mid-90's and has been free to access for everybody since day one – and will stay free for as long as I run it.
But that doesn't mean that it's free to run.
It costs money to drive a large site like this.